Circular-fashioning knitting-machine.



A, N. AMES.

CIRCULAR FASHIONING KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 19, 1906. 962,29 1 Patented June 21, 1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDFEW BY cmmw co. mom-uwusmpnzws was-mam" u c A. N. AMES.

GIRGULAR FASHIONING KNITTING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1906.

962,291 Patented June 21, 1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

A. N. AMES.

CIRCULAR FASHIONING KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FBB.19, 1906.

962,291. Patented June 21,1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

,wunzw ILGRAHAM c0. PHOTO-LITNOGRAPNERS, WASMJHGION. D

A. N. AMES.

CIRCULAR FASHIONING KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1906.

Patented June 21, 1910,

m 1 a Z; w m IN A. N. AMES.

CIRCULAR FASHIONING KNITTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 1113. 19, 1906.

962,291 Patented June 21, 1910. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

I fweragor'r n fiztigurfid n/es:

1 v (ff/MM A. N. AMES.

CIRCULAR FASHIONIN G KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19, 1906.

962,291 Patented June 21, 1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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A. N. AMES.

CIRCULAR PASHIONIN G KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED P121319, 1906.

962,291 Patented June 21, 1910.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

ANDREW e GRAHAM m. Pnmuunicawwzm vmsnmmou, u. ::v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR N. AMES, OF FRANKLIN FALLS, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

CIRCULAR-FASHIONING KNITTING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. Arms, a citizen of the United States, residing in Franklin Falls, in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Improvement in Circular-Fashioning Knitting-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing'like parts.

The present invention relates to a circular knitting machine, and is embodied in a machine of that type known as the full automatic, in which the machine, once started, will knit a stocking complete; the transfer from the circular knitting for the leg and foot to the reciprocating knitting for the heel and toe, and vice versa, being accom plished by automatic pattern mechanism; and the machine being stopped automatically when the stocking has been completed.

In a machine of the type to which the invention relates, a pattern shaft is employed which is provided with a cam projection arranged to operate a shipping device to stop the machine at the end of a complete rotation of said shaft, such complete rotation taking place each time a complete stocking has been knit. This pattern shaft also carries two cam projections which are arranged to cooperate with a clutch for the purpose of changing the circular knitting movement to a reciprocating movement.

In the cycle of operations, the machine begins with a circular knitting movement which continues to form the leg of the stocking until the first of these cam projections comes into operation, thus causing the re ciprocating knitting to take place in the formation of the ,heel. Ordinarily, the pattern shaft ceases its rotary movement dur ing the reciprocating knitting operation, the machine being provided, however, in accordance with the present invention, with means for causing the said pattern shaft to continue its rotation during all, or a part, of this period, for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

The means for operating the clutch to cause the reciprocating knitting to be discontinued and the circular knitting resumed after the heel has been formed is under the control of a separate device, the shifting of the clutch causing the said clutch to again come under control of the main pattern cam Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 21, 1910.

Application filed February 19, 1906.

Serial No. 301,801.

so as to be shifted again thereby after the circular knitting which forms the foot of the stocking has been completed. One feature of the present invention is embodied in a novel construction and arrangement of the clutch shifting mechanism.

The main pattern cam wheel above described is so arranged that the length of the leg and the length of the foot can be adjusted, the length of the leg depending upon the duration of the first circular knitting operation, which in turn depends upon the number of courses knit by the machine before the clutch is shifted by the first cam projection. This adjustment, as it may be called, is provided for in this machine, as in others of the prior art, by employing fast and loose gears to actuate the pattern cam shaft, these gears being driven by a common pinion and provided with mutilated portions which are out of alinement with each other, so that one of the said gears will always be in mesh. Starting with the fast gear in mesh and the loose gear out of mesh, the latter is pushed forward into mesh by means of projections formed on said gears, the fast gear then going out of mesh while the loose gear continues to travel again in idle movement, the pattern cam remaining stationary. The loose gear, however, is provided with an adjustable projection which is arranged to pick up the fast gear at any desired period in the operation, this period depending upon the adjustment of the pro jection, so that the fast gear is pushed into mesh where it continues until the pattern cam shaft has made one complete revolution to stop the machine. In the meantime, the mutilated portion of the loose gear has reached the driving pinion so that the said loose gear ceases its operation and the fast gear stops at its original position. The length of the leg, therefore, depends upon the position of the adjustable projection, the pattern cam ceasing its operation for a length of time thus determined prior to the shifting of the clutch which precedes the formation of the heel.

One feature of the present invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the loose gear and the bearings therefor, together with the means for adjusting the projection on said loose gear, the adjustment being made from the outside of the machine and correctly determined mil by means of calibrations which correspond exactly to the number of courses formed in the circular knitting operation.

From the foregoing description of the pattern mechanism as employed in machines of the prior art, it is obvious that a number of courses of circular knitting corresponding to one complete rotation of the pattern cam shaft must be divided between the leg and foot, since the rotation of the pattern cam shaft is commonly stopped during the formation of the heel.

A further feature of the present invention is embodied in means for knitting a shorter leg than is possible under the conditions above outlined, the pattern cam shaft being provided with an adjustable device, the purpose of which is to permit the feed of the pattern cam shaft to continue during all, or a portion of the reciprocating knitting operation. The two cams which consecutively operate the clutch to change the machine from circular to reciprocating movement are adjustable with relation to each other, and, in accordance with the present invention, are so arranged as to be easily accessible for adjustment, as well as provided with calibrations so that the adjustment can be quickly and accurately made without experiment.

In order to knit a stocking with a short leg through the employment of the de vices above described, the length of the leg may be determined by the position of the first cam projection with relation to the starting point, since, in this case, there is no pause in the operation of the pattern cam during the knitting of the leg. The length of the foot is determined by the position of the second cam projection with relation to the first, the distance being such as to correspond to the rotation of the cam shaft during such portion of the reciprocating knitting as may be determined by the device above described, plus the amount of rotation necessary to correspond to the number of courses of circular knitting in the foot. It is obvious, moreover, that, with the adjustments provided for, as above described, it is possible not only to decrease the total amount of circular knitting, but also to divide that circular knitting between the leg and foot in any proportion desired.

The invention further relates to certain novel features of construction and arrangement of the various feed mechanisms for the pattern device which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Figure l is a front elevation of the upper portion of a knitting machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a detail in section taken on the line :0 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a top view, partly in plan, and partly in horizontal section; Fig. 5 is a detail showing in side elevation the fast gear and the driving pinion for the gears; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a different adjustment of the parts; Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the machine looking towards the left of Fig. 2, with parts broken away to show the mechanism behind; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal Vertical section on the line m of Fig. 7, some of the parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 9 is a detail, on the same scale as Figs. 7 and 8, showing in rear elevation some of the parts shown in Fig. 2, but in a different position; and Fig. 10 is a section on line 00 of Fig. 8.

The driving mechanism of the machine is substantially like that employed in machines of this type as heretofore constructed, the main shaft A, (Fig. 1) having sleeved thereon a driving pulley A and a loose pulley A, the driving pulley having connected therewith a driving gear A which meshes with a large gear A which is driven 'continually when the belt is on the pulley A The said large gear A is connected by means of a pitman A with a gear segment A upon a rock shaft A which, through the action of said pitman, is oscillated continuously during the operation of the machine. The said gear segment is in mesh with a gear A on the shaft A, the said gear A therefore, being oscillated so long as the machine is in operation. Interposed between the driving gear A and the oscillated gear A is a clutch member B, which is shown as a sleeve splined on the shaft A so as to be connected therewith, so far as relates to rotating or oscillating motion, the said clutch member B having projections B and B which are adapted to engage respectively with shoulders in the gears A and A. Then, therefore, the clutch member B is in engagement with the gear A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shaft A will be rotated, while if the clutch member B is shifted to the other position so that the said clutch member is connected with the gear A, the said shaft will be oscillated. The shaft A is further provided with a gear A which is in mesh with the gear 0 on a stub shaft G which gear O is also provided with a bevel gear portion C intermeshing with a bevel gear C on a portion of the cam cylinder C so that the said cam cylinder is rotated or oscillated in accordance with the operation of the shaft A, the rotary movement of the cylinder performing the circular knitting operation, while the oscillating movement thereof performs the reciprocating knitting operation by which the heel and toe of a stocking are formed.

In the operation of knitting a stocking, the machine starts with the clutch member B in the position shown in Fig. 1, so that a rotary movement is imparted to the cam cylinder C producing the circular knitting operation which knits the leg of the stocking. lVhen the leg has been completed, the clutch member 13 is automatically shifted so that said member B becomes engaged with the gear A, the said shaft A then oscillating, instead of rotating, in accordance with the operation of the mechanism previously described. The shifting of the clutch member B is produced through the agency of a pattern cam which is provided with three parts a, a and a, (Figs. 1, 2 and A), the part a being provided with a projection 64 which cooperates with a shipper member 1) to stop the operation of the machine at the end of a complete rotation of the cam wheel. The specific construction and arrangement of the shipper mechanism is not herein shown and described since it forms no part of the present invention.

The parts (4 and a are provided respectively with projections a and a which cooperate with a lever Z) which, in turn, produces the operation of the clutch member B, as follows: The said lever Z) (see Figs. 2 and 9) which is shown as having a pivotal support 5 at the end of a pivoted lever b which has a fixed pivotal support 6*, is provided with a tail or projection 6 connected with a link F). This link in turn is connected with the lever Z2 (Fig. a) which has a fixed pivotal support Z2 at one end, and is pivotally connected at the opposite end with a slide Y) so that the said slide U is given a longitudinal movement in a suitable guideway when the lever 7/ is rocked on its pivot through the action of the projection a or the projection a on the cam wheel. The slide 5 is mounted in the top of a forked lever (2, the fork members of which lever are provided with vertically movable rods 0 and 0 the fork of the lever straddling the large gear A The rods 0 and c are slot ted at their upper ends to receive the slide, and provided with transverse pins 0 and 0 which project through inclined slots 6 and Z2 formed in the slide Z), the inclination of the slots being such, as best shown in Fig. 2, that a reciprocating movement of the slide will lift the member 0 and lower the member a, and vice versa, according to the direct-ion of movement of the slide. The large gear A is provided on opposite sides with cams A and A, the former being in the path of the member 0 when said member 0 is lowered. Assuming, therefore, that the member 0 has been lowered and the member 0 raised, as shown in Fig. 2, the cam A will act upon the member 0 thereby moving the forked lever c to the left. The said forked lever 0, as best shown in Figs. 1 and l, is pivoted at 0* in the frame of the machine and is connected at 0 by means of a link 0 with a forked lever 13* pivoted at B and provided with radial projections B which engage with a slot 13 formed in the clutch member B. Through the movement of the lever 0, therefore, the forked lever B is rocked on its pivot so as to shift the clutch member B from one of the gears to the other. The movement of the cam cylinder C is thus changed from rotary to reciprocating to form the heel of the stocking, the next step being to shift back to the rotary movement after the heel has been finished, so as to continue the circular knitting during the formation of the foot. For this purpose, the machine is provided with a second pattern member (Z (see Figs. 8, 9 and 10) which is arranged to engage the opposite end of the lever b so as to produce a movement of said lever in a direction opposite to that previously described. Such movement is imparted, as before, to the slide Z2 lifting the projection 0 and lowering the projection 0 so that the cam projection A (Fig. 4) comes into play to shift the clutch member B in the opposite direction. In ac cordance with the invention, the lever Z), when acted upon at either end by the pattern cam, is thrown bodily out of the path of the cam which has acted upon it, it being possible, in this way, to obtain a quicker operation of the said lever, and, at the same time, to insure the absolute clearing of the lever by the cam to prevent accidents.

As previously stated, the lever b is pivotally connected at 79*, and is connected at the end opposite to the pivotal support for the lever Z) with a link p which, in turn is connected with the lever c, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the result being that the movement of the lever c in either direction is imparted through said link 72 to the lever 6 Thus, the member Z) is not only rocked upon its pivot, but is bodily shifted from the path of one cam into the path of the other each time the change takes place, owing to the swinging movement of the lever 5 As has been previously stated, the pattern cam a, a 66 makes one complete rotation during the formation of a stocking, the machine being stopped at the end of such rotation through the action of the cam projec tion a upon the shipper. Assuming, therefore, that the machine is capable of forminga certain definite number of courses of circular knitting during such rotation, it is obvious that these courses may be distributed between the leg and the foot of the stocking by adjusting the cam projections (4 and a. In the usual operation of the machine, as will be hereinafter described, the travel of the pattern wheel a, a (.6 is stopped during the reciprocating knitting operation and resumed during the circular knitting operation, it being obvious, therefore, that if the said pattern wheel rotated continuously during each of these circular knitting operations, the number of courses in the leg and the number of courses in the foot could be determined by adjusting the member a with relation to the member a, that is to say, the number of courses in the leg would be determined by the distance traveled by the pattern wheel up to the time the lever b was shifted by the member a; while the number of courses in the foot would be determined by the distance between the member a and the member a, the latter providing for the shift to reciprocating movement to knit the toe after the foot has been finished. In accordance with this invention, the members a and a" are adjustable with relation to each other, and also with relation to the member a, the said member a, as best shown in Fig. 8, being splined on a shaft a while the members (6 and (L are capable of being rotated around said shaft for adjusting purposes. In the construction shown, the member a has a bearing on a hub portion a of the member a, and is clamped against said member a by means of a cap screw 64 which projects through a slot 64 in the member a and is screwed into the said member a so as to lock the same after adjustment. Similarly, the member a is capable of being rotated with relation to either of the other members, being herein shown as seated upon a projecting beveled surface a at the rear of the member 64 and being clamped, when adjusted, between said beveled surface and a disk or flange a by means of the main clamping nut a which secures all the part-s together. The adjustment is, therefore, easily made, and, in order to render the adjustment absolutely accurate and devoid of guess-work or experiment, the several members of the pattern wheel are made of the same diameter, and provided along their outer peripheries with calibrations, as best shown in Fig. 9, these calibrations corresponding to the number of courses knit during the rotation of the pattern wheel, and numbered so that the exact number of courses in the leg or foot may be provided for. In knitting long stockings, however, it has been found expedient to extend the circular knitting in the leg of the stocking by causing the pattern cam to cease its operation during a portion of such knitting, this operation being provided for by means of fast and loose gears e and f, the fast gear 6 being keyed, or otherwise connected with the pattern cam shaft (4 while the loose gear f is capable of rotation independently thereof. The travel of the pattern shaft a is provided for through the agency of these gears, both of which are in mesh with a pinion g which is actuated continuously step by step through the operation of a ratchet g and pawl 9 the ratchet and pawl being operated from the oscillating shaft A as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The operation of the fast and loose gears is substantially like that of the prior art, as shown, for example, in Letters Patent No. 461,857, W. H. and G. D. Mayo, October 13, 1891, the fast gear 6, as shown in Fig. 7, standing, when the parts are in such position that the shipper cam 66 is operated to stop the machine, in mesh with the small gear 9, but with its mutilated portion just at the rear of said small gear in the direction of rotation. The loose gear f, at this period, is out of mesh, the mutilated portion being in the field of the gear 9. The fast gear 6, however, is provided with a fixed pin or projection e which is arranged to cooperate with a similar pin or projection f on the loose gear, the said pin 6 engaging the pin f and pushing the loose gear forward so as to bring it into mesh with the gear 9 before the mutilated portion of the gear 6 has come into the field of said gear g. (See Figs. 7 and 8). WVhen the mutilated portion of the fast gear 6 has reached the small gear 9, the pattern cam will, obviously, cease its operation, while the loose gear f will continue to travel forward in an idle or inoperative movement. Said loose gear, however, is provided with an adjustable projection f which, in turn, engages the projection 6 so as to push the fast gear e again into mesh with the gear 9, the pattern cam then resuming its rotation and continuing until a complete revolution has been made and the machine stopped. In the meantime, the mutilated portion of the loose gear f has reached the gear 9 so that the movement of said loose gear has ceased, the parts, therefore, stopping in the same position in which they started, regardless of the position of the adjustable stop f WVhile the operation above outlined is substantially the same as that already known in the art, the construction and arrangement of the gears, the adjustable projection, &c., are among the novel features of this invention.

In accordance with the invention, the adjustable projection f is capable of being adjusted from the outside of the frame, and the adjustment is made through the operation of calibrated members, the calibrations of which correspond numerically to the number of courses of circular knitting, so that an accurate adjustment can be easily and quickly made without taking the machine apart to any extent.

Referring to Fig. 8, the loose gear f is provided with a hub portion f which has a bearing in the cover plate F which incloses the pattern feeding mechanism. The loose gear, by this construction, is entirely independent of the fast gear and the driving shaft therefor, it being practicable, therefore, to remove the same bodily by merely taking off the cover and thereby to gain access to the fast gear, if desired. The gear hub f is held in its bearing by means of a plate f which bears against the outer surface of the cover F and is secured to the hub portion of the gear by means of screws f. The adjustable stop 7" is provided with the hub portion which, in turn, bears inside of the hub portion f of the gear 7 so as to be capable of rotation with relation to the gear,

the said portion being connected by means of pins f with an outer plate or member f. The members and f are shown as provided with teeth or notches f and f whereby they are capable of being clamped together and prevented from independentrotat-ion by a suitable clamping device, such as a thumb screw As herein shown, a spring f is interposed between the member f and the hub f to separate said member from the member f when the thumb screw j" is loosened, shown in dotted lines Fig. 9. When thus loosened, it is obvious that a rotary movement of the member f will carry with it the adjustable projection to any point desired. The members and f are calibrated to correspond to the number of courses of circular knitting, the member f being herein shown as provided with a single i'nark, while the member f is provided with a numbered scale, as shown in T. The number of courses for the leg can thus be determined by making the proper adjustment of the cam member on the cam wheel, and then adjusting the stop f, the number of courses which will be knit in the leg before the transfer into the heelcorresponding to the sum of the calibrations on the pattern cam wheel and those on the adjustable stop scale.

The mechanism which causes the travel of the pattern cam shaft- (4 is best shown in Figs. 3, T and 8, the small gear 9 being rotated, as previously stated, through the agency of the ratchet 9 which is connected with said gear, and the pawl 9 The said pawl is herein shown as pivotally supported at g upon an arm which has a bearing concentric with the axis of the small gear, the said arm being connected by means of a link y with an arm 9 which has a bearing on the oscillating shaft A The said shaft i is further provided with a member secured thereto as by a set screw g", see Fig. 7), which member is provided with an adjustable pin which is arranged to engage a pin 9 which projects laterally from the arm g so that, in the oscillating movement of the shaft A the said arm will be pushed toward the left, Fig. 7, against the stress of a spring which connects the said arm with a fixed portion of the frame of the machine. At each movement of the shaft A therefore, the arm f will be pushed forward to a certain definite point which is determined by the preliminary adjustment of the member g In the reverse movement of the shaft A the arm 9 will be restored or pulled back by the spring the adjustment being afforded by controlling the extent of such rearward movement through the agency of an adjustable stop 9. As herein shown (see Fig. 8) the said stop g consists of a pin having a knob or handle 9 the said pin being adapted to be inserted in any one of a number of openings or sockets 9 (Fig. 7) formed in a fixed portion of the frame, the pin portion standing in the path of a projection g which may be an extension of the pivot pin by means of which the link 9 is connected with the pawl carrier or arm The pin sockets g are arranged to correspond with the teeth on the ratchet g and each movement, therefore, will be equal to the number of teeth over which the pawl g has moved ack before being resisted by the stop 9 This adjustment provides for an additional adjustment as to the length of the circular knit portions of the stocking, since it is obvious that more courses can be knit during the formation of a single stocking if the time required for a complete revolution of the pattern cam is extended.

In the ordinary operation of knitting, the main pattern cam is stopped in response to the operation which causes the cam cylinder to change from rotary to reciprocating movement when going from the leg to the heel, or from the foot to the toe. This is for the reason that the reciprocating knitting movement is controlled by the cam cylinder itself, and, so far as relates to pattern devices, is substantially independent of the pattern cams. The stopping of the pattern cam shaft (6 is herein shown as provided for as follows: The link 22 (Fig. 2) which connects the arm 6 with the forked lever c, as

as previously described in connection with the shifting of the lever b from the path of one cam into the path of the other, is also connected with a lever h pivotally supported at if, and provided with an arm or projection it which, in turn, is connected through a link h with a stop member 72, (see Fig. 7) which is pivoted at it and normally stands in the position shown in said Fig. 7. The movement of the link 7 however, which takes place when the clutch B is shifted to change from rotary to reciprocating knitting, is transmitted to the stop member h", causing the same to drop into the path of the projection g so that the said stop member thus prevents the rearward or return movement of the arm 9 the pawl thus remaining in its extreme forward position, so that the feed of the pinion 9 no longer takes place. As best shown in Fig. T, the arm and the link li have a lost motion connection, as indicated by the slot 72/, and the pin 71?, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described in connection with that feature of the invention which provides for the knitting of a stocking with an unusually short leg. At the time when the main pattern cam is thus put out of operation, the control of the machine is transferred to a separate device which operates the cam member (Z for the purpose of shifting the mechanism from the reciprocating to the circular knitting movement.

The operating device for the cam (Z consists of a wheel (Z (see Figs. 8 and 10) which has a bearing on a sleeve through which the main pattern cam shaft a extends, the wheel (Z being provided with a ratchet (Z which is arranged to be acted on by a pawl (2*. The pawl cl is pivotally supported upon an arm (Z mounted concentrically with the ratchet d and normally held in a certain predetermined position by means of a spring (Z As herein shown, the said spring (Z is secured at one end to a lug (Z projecting from the hub of the arm (Z and at the other end to a stop d which also constitutes the means for limiting the rear ward movement of the arm (Z in conjunction with an adjustable pin (Z which is screw threaded in the end of a loop-shaped member (Z which forms part of the arm (Z The said arm (Z is provided with a cam roll (Z which is acted upon by an engaging member is, herein shown as in the form of a segment adjustably secured to an arm which is pivoted at 70 and connected by means of a link 7: with an arm 76 which is secured to the oscillating shaft A so that the said segment 70 moves back and forth continuously during the operation of the machine. When, therefore, the arm (Z and pawl d are in the position shown in Fig. 10, the pawl will be pushed forward to rotate the ratchet (Z and, consequently, the wheel (Z will be moved at each oscillation of the shaft A the extent of such movement being determined by the pin (Z which limits the rearward movement of the pawl. A further adjustment is provided for by making the segmental member 70 independent of the arm 70 the said member 70 being shown as independently pivoted at k co-axially with the arm 76 and being provided with the member 70 having a slot 70 the walls of which are acted upon by a cap screw or nut is which bears upon the part 76 and is threaded in the arm 70 The upper surface of the segment 70 is shaped in the form of an arc struck from the axis of said member, so that after the cam roll (Z has been pushed forward to the extent desired, the curved upper surface of the segment is will travel along the said roll maintaining it in position until the segment 70 returns, but without otherwise producing any effect. The ratchet (Z is held against return movement by means of a retaining pawl m which is shown as pivoted upon the projection (Z previously described as constituting the stop which cooperates with the adjusting member (Z WVhen in its extreme forward position, the arm (Z5 is arranged to be engaged at the rear by a detent arm or lever n which prevents the return movement of said arm so that the segment is which operates continuously, merely moves back and forth without producing any effect upon the arm (Z and, consequently, without causing the travel of the wheel (Z To start the travel of the wheel 6Z2, therefore, it is necessary to remove the stop arm n, and this is accomplished in response to the instrumentalities which cause the machine to shift from the reciprocating to the oscillating movement.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 9, the lever h, which has been previously described in connection with the means for actuating the main pattern cam shaft, is provided with a portion 71, which projects beyond the fulcrum 7L2, so that it will move toward the left, Fig. 2, in response to the movement caused by the lowering of the pin 6 which happens prior to the shifting of the clutch B to produce the reciprocating knitting movement. This arm it acts upon a shoulder or projection a connected with the stop n, so as to throw the said stop to the left, as shown in Fig. 9, out of the path of the arm d. The pawl d, therefore, at this period, will travel back along the path of the ratchet wheel (Z until arrested by the stop d and, in the next forward movement of the segment 70, the ratchet (Z will be moved, and will continue to be moved so long as the arm (5 is left free to be acted upon by the spring, and by the segment It is to be noted that the shape and arrangement of the segment is is such that, regardless of adjustment, the limit of forward movement of the arm (Z will be the same in every case, and the retaining pawl m is so constituted as to engage the ratchet wheel (Z at the point where the driving pawl d stops at the end of each forward movement, the purpose being to obtain the same efiect if, for any reason, a wheel having a different number of teeth is substituted.

As best shown in Fig. 10, the stop arm 'n, is fast on a short shaft 92 which is mounted in a bearing n, the opposite end of the shaft or having fastened thereon a boss or hub n which carries the shoulderor projection W, and to which the spring a is connected.

The member (Z will continue to be actuated as above described so long as the stop n remains out of the path of the pawl carrying member (Z until finally the cam cl reaches the left hand end of the lever I), as shown in Fig. 9, so as to engage and shift the said lever I), thus changing the knitting operation back from the reciprocating to the circular. This results in a movement of the lever h in the opposite direction from that above described so that the stop a is free to move back into the path of the pawlcarrying member (Z It is necessary, however, that the member (Z should continue its travel far enough to carry the cam (Z completely beyond the lever b, so that when the said lever b is again shifted, it will fall behind the said cam (Z. Furthermore, it is desirable that the stop a should be timed to move when the pawl-carrying member (Z is in its forward position, so as to drop in behind the pawl-carrying member without coming in lateral contact therewith. For these reasons, the return movement of the stop a is arranged to be under the control of the member (Z itself, the lever it, as shown in Fig, 9, not being positively connected with the stop u, but arranged to move it in one direction only. The movement of the stop it in the other direction is produced by means of a spring n, and the spring is prevented from acting by a stop lever 0 which cooperates with a shoulder or engaging portion a (Fig. 8) shown as formed on the hub of the stop member 91 The stop lever 0 is pivoted at 0 to the frame and is arranged to be rocked into position over the shoulder a by means of a spring 0 when the stop member a is pushed to the left by the lever 72 Figs. 9 and 10, as previously explained. The opposite end of the lever 0, when in position to hold the stop a, is in the path of a projection on the member (Z this projection coming into engagement with the lever .0 after the cam (Z has traveled completely past and shifted the lever Z). The projection (Z is so positioned as to operate at the time when the feed pawl (Z is in its extreme forward position, and the spring of connected with the stop a then throws the said stop in behind the pawl-carrying member (Z as soon as the said stop is released by the lever .0. At the end of the operation thus described, the cir cular knitting is resumed until the shift is again made to produce the reciprocating knitting necessary for the formation of the toe of the stocking during which the main pattern cam shaft stands still and the member (Z operates as in the formation of the heel. W'hen the toe has been finished, the shift is again produced by the operation of the cam (Z, and the feed of the main pattern wheel is continued, the cam which operates the shipper at this time being just ready to operate, so that the machine is stopped after a few circular courses are knit.

In the operation of the machine as thus far described it is obvious that the number of circular courses divided between the leg and foot of the stocking must correspond to a complete rotation of the pattern cam, it being possible, of course, to cause the said pattern cam'to rotate continuously during the circular knitting process by bringing the adjustable stop f into contact with the front of the stop 6 so that the fast and loose gears e and f will rotate as one, the cam shaft of stopping only during the reciprocating knitting operation. It is desirable in some cases, however, to provide the machine with means for producing even a lesser number of circular courses, and this is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a device which causes the travel of the pattern cam to continue during a portion of the reciprocating knitting operation,

As hereinbefore described, the travel of the main cam is stopped during the reciprocating knitting operation, through the action of the stop arm Zr (see Fig. 3) which is lowered in response to the upward movement of the link li which is produced by the devices which cause the machine to be shifted from the circular to the reciprocating knitting operation The connection between the stop arm 7& and the link h however, is not positive, there being, as previously mentioned, a lost motion between the two, the arm if being supported on its pivot in such a way that it is free to drop of its own weightwhen the link 72. moves upward. If, therefore, the machine is provided with means for preventing the stop-arm if from dropping after the link if has moved upward, the travel of the main pattern cam will continue until the stop arm is permitted to drop into contact withthe pawl-carrying member.

In the construction shown, the fast gear 6 is shown as provided on the rear side with a ledge e which extends part way around the circumference of the gear, and the arm if is provided with an upwardly projecting member k the upper end of which is bent inward, as indicated at h (Fig. 9) so as to project into a channel 6* adjacent to the ledge 6 If, therefore, the gear 6 is in such position, as shown in Fig. 3, that the ledge 6 has traveled past the projection h when the link lif is lifted, the engagement of the arm k with the ledge 0 will prevent the stop member 7L5 from dropping, so that the travel of the main pattern cam will continue until the fast gear (2 has traveled far enough to permit the member 71. to be released by, or disengaged from, the ledge 6 The continuation of the feed of the main pattern shaft may take place during the formation of the heel, or during the formation of the toe, in accordance with the circular knitting which goes to make up the leg and that which goes to make up the foot.

In order to obtain any adjustment desired, the machine is shown as provided with means for adjusting the position of the fast gear with relation to the pattern cam shaft, there being, in the construction shown, provision for three difierent positions of the gear, the cams on the pattern cam shaft being, as previously described, capable of any adjustment desired to correspond. Referring to Fig. 8, the teeth of the gear member 6 are formed on an annular rim portion 0 which is provided with a flange 0 which is arranged to be clamped by means of screws 6 to the face of the body of the gear member 6, it being practicable, therefore, by loosening the said screws 6 to turn the rim portion 6 to any position desired.

As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, three definite positions are provided for, as indicated by the numerals 1, 2 and 3, and the member 6 is provided with a dowel pin 0 which is arranged to engage in any one of a series of openings 6 6 and 6 formed in the main portion of the gear member.

In Fig. 5, the gear member 6 is shown as in its normal position, the dowel pin 0 being in the opening a. In Fig. 6, the dowel pin a is shown as in the opening 6 the gear member 6 being in its second adjustable position. Under normal conditions, that is to say, under conditions such that the additional feed movement of the pattern cam is not needed, the member It? can be put out of operation by providing it with means for holding it entirely out of the path of the ledge 6 for example, by making the upper portion of the arm of thin sheet metal capable of being sprung out of the way, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 9. This upper part is shown as fastened by rivets It on the main portion of the arm, and said main portion is provided with a screw 76 which is adapted to be screwed into contact with the spring part so as to force the same to the dotted line position, Fig. 9, where it will not engage the ledge 0 In the foregoing description, the machine has been described as stopping automatically at the end of each complete rotation of the pattern cam shaft which represents the formation of one stocking. In this way, the operation of the pattern cam shaft is more readily understood, but it should be mentioned that the operation of the automatic shipper is not essential. It is customary, on the other hand, in knitting ladies stockings, to allow the machine to run continuously, and separate the stockings after they are knit.

In order to determine the proper starting position of the pattern cam in case the machine is stopped in an intermediate position, for any reason, and it is desired to reset the pattern mechanism, before again starting the machine, the pattern mechanism is provided with an indicator, and also with means for manual operation. Referring to Fig. 7, the fast gear member of the pattern mechanism is provided with a projection or engaging member 6 which is arranged, when the pattern mechanism is in its proper starting position, to engage a rocker e which is mounted on a pivot 6 Fig. 9, in a part of the frame adjacent to the gear. This rocker in turn engages a rod 0 which projects up through the top plate of the machine frame, as shown. As soon as the pattern mechanism begins to operate, the rocker 6 will be released by the projection 6 and the rod 6 will then drop out of sight. To turn the pattern cam shaft by hand, the small gear 9 is shown as provided with a crank handle G, and, in order to set the machine, it is necessary only to turn the crank until the indicator rod 0 comes into view.

Claims.

1. In a knitting machine, a pattern shaft; a primary pattern member fixed on said shaft; .1 second pattern member rotatably mounted on said primary member; means for clamping said members together; a third pattern member rotatable around the shaft; a shoulder formed on the shaft; and means for clamping said members together.

2. In a knitting machine, a pattern shaft; a primary pattern member fixed on said shaft; a second pattern member rotatably mounted on said primary member; means for clamping said members together; a third pattern member rotatable around the shaft; a shoulder formed on the shaft; and means for clamping said third pattern member between said shoulder and the other pattern members.

3. In a knitting machine, a pattern shaft; fast and loose gears cooperating with said shaft; an adjustable stop movable with one of said gears; a frame; an adjusting member at the outside of the frame connected with said stop; means for clamping said adjusting member and stop to the gear after adjustment; and calibrations to indicate the position of the stop.

4. In a knitting machine, a pattern shaft; a gear fast on said shaft; a frame; a similar gear bearing in the frame; a calibrated plate secured to the gear which bears in the frame; a stop member having a bearing in the hub of the said gear; a late outside the frame adjacent to the calibrated plate aforesaid, said lates having registering .teeth corresponding to the calibrations;

means for rotatably connecting the outside plate with said stop member; and means for clamping the two plates together after the adjustment has been effected.

5. In a knitting machine, a pattern shaft; a gear fast on said shaft; a frame; a similar gear bearing in the frame; a calibrated plate secured to the gear which bears in the frame; a stop member having a bearing in the hub of the said gear; a plate outside the frame adjacent to the calibrated plate aforesaid, said plates having registering teeth corresponding to the calibrations; pins projecting from the stop member into openings in the outside plate, whereby said outside plate is separable from said calibrated plate, but rotatably connected with the stop-portion; a spring interposed between the plates; and a thumb screw to clamp the two plates together against the stress of the spring.

6. In a knitting machine, a cam cylinder and means for producing a rotating or reciprocating movement thereof; a traveling pattern device for causing the change from rotating to reciprocating movement; means for stopping the travel of said pattern device when the change has been made; a second independently traveling pattern device; actuating mechanism therefor; means acting in response to the pattern device first named for setting said actuating mechanism in operation; means operated by said second pattern device for causing the change from reciprocating to rotating movement; and means also operated by said second pattern device for stopping said actuating mechanism at the end of a complete revolution.

7. In a knitting machine, a pattern wheel to control the shift from reciprocating to rotary movement of the cam cylinder; an actuating pawl and a continuously operating actuating member therefor; a stop for said pawl to hold it beyond the sphere of action of said member; means for removing said stop to permit the operation of said pawl; an independent retaining device for said stop when thus removed; and means carried by the pattern wheel itself to release said retaining device.

8. In a knitting machine, two pattern wheels; a lever to be acted upon by each pattern wheel in turn; a pivoted member to which said lever is pivotally connected; devices caused to operate in response to the pivotal movement of said lever; and means for connecting said devices to said pivoted member, whereby said member is caused to carry said lever bodily out of the path of one pattern device and into the path of the other.

9. In a knitting machine, the pattern cam shaft; a gear fast on said shaft having a mutilated portion; an independent gear also provided with a mutilated portion, and having a bearing independent of said shaft whereby said fast gear is rendered accessible; a driving gear cooperating with said fast and loose gears; and engaging members wherebysaid fast and loose gears contribute in the operation of the pattern cam shaft.

10. In a knitting machine, the combination with the pattern cam shaft; of a gear fast thereon; a casing for said gear; a cover for said casing; a loose gear having a bearing in said cover independent of said shaft and being removable with said cover; common means for actuating said fast and loose gears; and engaging members whereby said fast and loose gears contribute in the operation of the pattern cam shaft, substantially as described.

11. In a knitting machine, the combination with a pattern cam; of means for respectively producing the circular knitting operation and the reciprocating knitting operation; means for operating the pattern cam during the circular knitting operation, and for preventing the operation thereof during the reciprocating knitting operation; and a separate device for permitting the operation of said pattern cam during all or a portion of the reciprocating knitting operation.

12. In a knitting machine, the combination with a pattern cam; of a gear to operate said cam; a pawl to produce the movement of said gear; a stop for said pawl; means for permitting said stop to move into the path of said pawl at a predetermined period in the operation to stop the travel of said gear; a projection from said stop and a ledge on said gear adapted, when said gear is in a certain predetermined position, to engage said projection and prevent the operation of said stop.

13. In a knitting machine, the combination with a pattern cam; of a gear to operate said cam; a pawl to produce the movement of said gear; a stop for said pawl; means for permitting said stop to move into the path of said pawl at a predetermined period in the operation to stop the operation of said gear; a projection from said stop; amovable member to engage said projection and prevent the operation of the stop; and means for holding said projection out of the path of said movable member.

14. In a knitting machine a pattern shaft; fast and loose gears to operate said shaft; an inclosing case for said gears, one of said gears having a bearing in said case; an adjustable stop on said gear last named, said stop having a hub portion extending through said gear to the outside of the case; and a device connected with said hub portion at the outside of the case, whereby said stop can be adjusted without opening the case.

15. In a knitting machine, the combination with two pattern members; of a lever interposed between said members to be acted upon alternately thereby; mechanism controlled by the movement of said lever caused by the pattern members; and means connected with said mechanism for moving the lever out of the path of one pattern member and into the path of the other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR N. AMES.

Witnesses:

FRANK Pnoo'ron, G. B. CLEMENT. 

